Science at the CHARA Array

CHARA research is focused on studying the astrophysical properties of stars at high angular resolution using long-baseline optical/infrared interferometry. The Center operates the CHARA Array, a six-telescope optical/infrared interferometric array on Mount Wilson, California. The CHARA Array provides the highest resolution of any telescope at visible and near-infrared wavelengths making it among the most powerful facilities in the world for studying stars and stellar systems at resolutions not previously available. Among the Array's "firsts" are:

* First direct detection of gravity darkening on a single star (Regulus)

* First direct measurement of the "P-factor" in the Baade-Wesselink method (δ Cep)

* First detection of hot exozodiacal dust around a main-sequence star (Vega)

* First model-independent measurement of an exoplanet diameter (HD 189733b)